By Steve Oma-Ofozor,
Lagos
Lorelay Holzendorff of Edo State on Saturday August 6, 2022 at the National Stadium Surulere Lagos won the final game of the U-12 girls event against Gloria Samuel of Ekiti State.
To become the champion of the 3rd Alhaji Adewale Isa Memorial Junior Tennis Championship U-12 event, Holzendorff, 11, a German-Nigerian defeated Samuel in a straight set of 4-0, 4-2 in the Court 1 of the stadium with display of skills to the delight of spectators who cheered her name with ceaseless applause.
Recalled to get to the final of the Championship which served off on Tuesday August 2, Holzendorff defeated Favour Emeka of Rivers State 6-0 on Friday August 5 in same venue.
Holzendorff who won the hearts of Lagos teeming tennis fans with her talent and skill speaking to SOKOnnect however, asserted that focus, hard work and commitment was the secret of her victory.
“I prepared for the tournament very well: I also trained very hard always and I’m looking forward to do better than this and become a greater tennis player in future,” she said.
In the same vein, her opponent, Samuel, 10, affimed that Holzendorff was a better player, but she hopped to meet her again for a revenge.
“”Lorelay is a very good player, I commend her for the victory; she overpowered me with her backhand skill; I’ll go back and work hard so that I can beat her when we meet again in championship as this Adewale Isa Memorial National Junior Championship ,” Samuel said.
Meanwhile, Mubarak Ganiyu of Oyo State emerged the overall winner of the Championship, beating Nubari John of Rivers State 6-3, 63 in U-16 boys event.
The Alhaji Adewale Isa Memorial Junior National Tennis Championship is said to be the first ranking tennis championship a Mubarak is automatically the number one junior player (boys) in the country.
